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[Solved] New System ($650 budget)

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Heya folks,

My friend wants me to build him a new system for "about $650." I asked him what he wanted, and here's what he said:
"A decent graphics card with 1 GB of memory, a 3.0 GHz quad core, 8 GB of RAM." He didn't have any other specifics in mind. He's by no means a power user at all. I think the most graphics intensive think he does is play World of Warcraft. Otherwise, he just surfs the net and uses typical Office-like programs. (No idea why he wants 8 GB of RAM.)

I've worked in computer shops before fixing old computers, but I've never spent much time with new computers, so I have no idea about the latest and greatest hardware. Here's what I was thinking, just based on browsing Newegg.com and Drectron.com. I'd appreciate any feedback.

AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HDX945WFGIBOX ($165)

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard ($80)

WD Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive ($75)

HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card ($75)

Crucial 2GB DDR3 1066 (PC3-8500) System Memory, 240-pin DIMM, Unbuffered x4 ($156)

Black Broadway Com Corp 9257-Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, w/ 600W Power Supply and 250mm Fan ($53).

That all leaves me at $604, which means I have a little room to bump up the quality of one thing or another if it seems important.

Thanks a bunch for any suggestions!

The Intel Core i5 would outperform that Phenom II 945, even though it's only 2.66ghz. Clock speed isn't everything. Also, tell your friend he won't need 8GB of RAM.

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz - $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2
+
COOLER MASTER Elite 341
Combo Price: $129.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.279462

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333mhz CL7
+
HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB
Combo Price: $148.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.280051

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341016

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA - $31.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118030

Grand Total:* $625.92 (before $35 Mail in Rebates)
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Sorry... A few things I see that I'm supposed to add. Resolution will probably be 1024 x 768, overclocking not necessary, peripherals not needed (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.), Windows 7 64 bit OS, and will be purchasing parts sometime next week.

Reply to jmjwalker
Best answer

The Intel Core i5 would outperform that Phenom II 945, even though it's only 2.66ghz. Clock speed isn't everything. Also, tell your friend he won't need 8GB of RAM.

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz - $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2
+
COOLER MASTER Elite 341
Combo Price: $129.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.279462

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333mhz CL7
+
HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB
Combo Price: $148.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.280051

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341016

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA - $31.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118030

Grand Total:* $625.92 (before $35 Mail in Rebates)

Reply to build

jmjwalker wrote :

"A decent graphics card with 1 GB of memory, a 3.0 GHz quad core, 8 GB of RAM." He's by no means a power user at all.

 

You need to educate your friend a little bit lol.

 

I would go for something like this, trust me it would be better than what he suggested. It comes to $660...

 

AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103696

 

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128392

 

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227478

 

GIGABYTE GV-R577D5-1GD-B Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125301

 

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] f3%20500gb

 

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k=550%20vx

 

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

 

Edit: Build must have posted right when I hit reply.


Message edited by jbakerlent on 11-02-2009 at 01:54:21 AM
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